Boat fender



Nov. 22, 1966 R. CARETTA BOAT FENDER Filed July 20, 1965 F R 2u z m 2 z f m 6. Z MH o/o, Z f M u V N United States Patent O 3,286,680 BOAT FENDER Robert Caretta, 117 9th St., Racine, Wis. Filed July 20, 1965. Ser. No. 473,397 1 Claim. (Cl. 114-219) This invention relates to a fender which is used to cushion a boa-t against shocks and prevent damage to the hull when the boat is moored at -a pier.

An object of this invention is to provi-de a fender of rubber or other resilient or pliable material which will absorb shocks.

Another object is to provide a fender for suspension adjacent a boat hull that w-ill not abrade or otherwise damage the finish of a hull, but will roll thereon.

Another object is to provide a fender unit that will permit the Stringing together of several of them, end-toend axially, thus providing a long fender.

Further objects 4and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein lan embodiment of the nvention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed, but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spiri-t of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partial axial cross section of the fender having means by which it can be hung singly at the side of a boat hull.

FIG. 2 `is -a top view of the fender of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an aXial ycir-oss section of a plurality of fender units from which the eyebolt has been omitted, and they have been strung on `a rope.

FIG. 4 is a top en-d view of the fender of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a view of the fenders of FIG. 3 as hung along the hull of a boat.

Referring :again to the drawing: The fender F comprises an elongated body of rubber or yieldable plastic, of a cylindrical shape and having a spherical 4top 12. Body 10 has a cylindrical bore or cavity 14 surrounded by a skirt or shell 16, terminating in a lower end 18 deining an annulus having a rounded contour or chamfer 20. The bore or cavity 14 terminates upw-ardly in a bottom 22 having a fillet 24.

One method of suspending or hanging the fender F singly is shown in FIG. l. An eyebolt 26 is mounted in a hole -or aperture 28 which is -co-aXial with cylindrical ebody 10, and has a collar 30 and a shank 32. A washer 34 and nut 36 secure the bolt 26 in hole 28. Bolt 26 has an eye 38 to receive a rope 40 whereby the fender F is secured to the boat.

As shown in FIG. 5, it may be that a single fender as shown in FIG. 1 may not protect the hull H from a protruding portion of a pier P or wharf. In this instance several fenders F, from which the eyebolts 26 have been omitted, may be strung on a rope 44 as shown in FIG. 3. A knot 46 in this inst-ance, is made on rope 44 to axially support the lowest fender F. The rope is then inserted in holes 28 of the desired number of fenders F. As shown in FIG. 5, two fenders were found to be ample to protect the hull H. A washer 48 provides a thrust bearing between the bottom 22 of the 3,286,680l Patented Nov. 22, 1966 ICC fender and knot 46, and also permits the fenders to swivel easily relative to each other because of the relationship of the spherical top 12 with the chamfer 20 of the lower edge 18 of the upper fender. It will thus be seen that several fenders assembled as in FIGS. 3 and 5 will conform to the contour of the hull H. Any required number of fenders can be suspended end-to-end lso as to protect the full height of the hull.

Another feature of this invention is that the fender F will roll about its axis when the hull H moves parallel to the pier -or wharf, an-d thus there will be no danger of scratching or otherwise damaging the surface of the hull H.

A notch or passageway 50i is provided in the edge 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to permit water to enter the bore 14 and displace the air therein and prevent the fender from floating when assembled as shown in FIG. 3: Hole or aperture 28 being of a size to permit air in bore 14 to escape about rope 44.

In instances where a single fender, such as in FIG. 1 is hung free of the water, the problem of oating will not occur.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United State-s is:

A fender to be suspended adjacent to 4the hull of a boat, comprising .a plurality `of elongated cylindrical bodies of resilient material positioned axially and endto-end, each of said bodies having an upper spherical end, and a lower end, and being provided with an axial cylindrical bore defining a shell terminating at said lower end in an annulus, said annulus being provided with a downwardly-open notch extending radially lthereacross,

said bore terminating upwardly in a bottom at a point spaced below said upper end, said body provided with an axial aperture extending from said spherical end to said bottom, a suspension member passing freely through said apertures, said bodies positioned on said suspension member with said spherical end positioned upwardly and with said annulus of each fender resting upon the said spherical end of the adjoining fender, and means to fix the lowermost fender `against downward axial displacement relative to said suspension member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

MILTON BUCHLER, Examiner.

B. BELKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

